Rotary motion translating device



Feb. 27, 1940. A, B, PQOLE 2,191,540

RGTARY MOTION TRANSLATING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZO 58 5K Feb. 27, 1940. A. B. POOLE ROTARY MOTION TRANSLATING' DEVICE Filed June 29, 1939 Patented Feb. 2v, 1940 j UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEl'cE 2,191,840' ROTARY MOTION TBANSLATING DEVICE Arthur B. Poole, Bristol, Conn., assignor to The E. Ingraham Company, Bristol, Conn., a corporation o! Connecticut Application June 29, 1939, Serial No. 281,807

1o claims. (ol. 'x4-112) 'I'he present invention relates to improvements in rotary motion translating devices ofthe character wherein a continuous rotary motion may be translated or transposed into an intermittent or step-by-step rotary motion. The translating devices of the present invention are primarily designed for effecting the periodic actuation of an electric switch device though also available for many other uses. l

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a superior device of the character referred to, by means of which a relatively-slow substantially-continuous rotary motion of a driving-member may be converted or translated into a relatively-rapid step-by-step rotary motion without deterioration of the parts despite long periods of service.

Another object of the vpresent invention is to provide a superior rotary motion translating device which will'accomplish the desired translating of a continuous or substantially-'continuous rotary motion into periodic rapid 360 motion of one continuous and rapid sweep without'requirl ing an undue number of parts. A further object of the present invention isto provide a device of the character referred to. which may be produced at a low cost of 'manufacture and which will withstand long periods of severe usage without occasioning the breakdown of the parts.

With the above and other objects in view, as

will appear to those skilled in the art from theA assume in accordance with the present invention and showing a portion of the front-plate broken away and some of the remaining parts in partial section, for purposes of clarity of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a'top or plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

' Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing the partsin the positions which they assume an instant lprior to the release of the stop-arm; l

Fig. 5 is a corresponding view but showing the parts in the positionswhich they assume .an in- 5 s tant following 'the release of the stop-arm;

which a rotary motion translating device may Fig. 6 is a broken transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the unit comprising the driven-pinion, stop-arm, spring-barrel and shaft, detached;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the unit comprising, in the main, the driving-wheel and the latch-releasing member carried thereby;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the latchfreleasing member, detached; and 1 Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the latchingmember, detached.

For purposes of making clear the character of the present invention, one form thereof has been chosen for illustration in the accompanying 15 drawings and for detailed description. 'I'he particular rotary motion translating device shown, includes a front-plate 2li and a back-plate 2l, both of circular outline and both rigidly coupled together :ln parallel spaced-relationship by means 20 of a plurality of pillars 22. Mounted against the rear face of the back-plate 2|, is a synchronous electric motor-structure designated by the reference character 23 and which may be of any approvide form requiring no detailed description 25 herein, other than to point out that, as shown, the said motor-structure is provided with a power-output shaft 24 carrying a driving-pinion 25. The said driving-'pinionvis driven by the synchronous electric motor-structure 23 with an 30 accurately-timed rotational movement, and meshes into and drives a driving gear-wheel 26 which has staked to it a hub 21 mounted with freedom for rotation upon a shaft 28 journaled at its respective oppositeends in the frontand 35' ter together with a stop-arm 32 is-.staked or otherwise rigidly attached to a driven-pinion 33 mounted upon the shaft 23 before referred to, 50 and rigidly coupled thereto. 'I'he end of the transmitting-spring 30 opposite the end thereof coupled to the anchor-stud 29 is extended forwardly through an aperture 34 in the springbarrell3| and is bent over the forward face of 55 the stop-arm 32 as shown. As thus constructed and arranged, the transmitting-spring- 30 elastically transmits the force developed by the driving gear-wheel 26 to the stop-arm 32 and hence to the driven-pinion 33 by which the said stoparm is carried.

At its outer end the stop-arm 32 is .bent inwardly to provide a radially-extending latchingnger 35 normally in engagement with a latching-iinger 36 formed at the outer end of a yielding hatching-member 31. The said ,latchingmember 31 may be of any suitable form which vwill yield to permit the retirement of the latching-finger 36 and, as herein shown, the said latching-member is formed of spring-metal hav-- ing at its end opposite from the said latchingnger, an anchoring-tongue 31a extended through the back-plate 2l and riveted in` place therein.

For the purpose of periodically retiring the latching-nger 36 of the latching-member 31 out of the path of movement of the latchinglinger 35 of the stop-arm 32, a latch-releasing member 38 is employed. The said latch-releasing member is mounted for swinging movement about an axis transverse to the plane of movement of the latching-member 31, upon a stud 38a carried by the .driving gear-wheel 26. The

said latch-releasing member 38 islocated to the rear of the driving gear-wheel 26 by which it is carried, and is provided at points remote from the stud 38a about which it swings with a forwardlyprojecting latch-releasing-pin 39 and a forwardly-projecting actuating-plum. Both the latchreleasing pin 39 and the actuating-pin 46 of the latch-releasing member 38 project forwardly through an arcuate clearance-slot 26a formed in the driving gear-wheel 26, as is especially well shown in Fig. 8 of thedrawings.

The latch-releasing pin 39 of the latch-releasing member 33 is adapted to engage with the inner face of the latching-member 31 and is sufficiently short to readily pass by the rear edge of the latching-nger 35 of the stop-arm 32. The actuating-pin 40 of the said latch-releasing member 33 'is longer than the pin 39 and is adapted to engage with the latching-iinger 35 of the stoparm 32 as the latch-releasing member 38 is carried bodily by the drivinggear-wheel 26, to effect the turning movement of the latch-releasing member 38 for the purpose as will more fully hereinafter appear. y

'I'he driven-pinion 33 before referred to, meshes into a gear-wheel 4| mounted with freedom for rotation upon a shaft 42 journaled` at its respective opposite ends in the back-plate 2| and in a cup-shaped bearing-member 43 secured in andforwardly-projecting from the front-plate 2U. The said gear-Wheel 4| isfprovided with two A(more or less) spring-pawls 44-.44 which engage front-plate 20 into the interior of the cupshaped bearing-member 43 and projects radially through the cut-away side wall 46 of the said bearing-memberinto engagement with a gearwheel 41 located forwardly of the front-plate 20.-

preferably formed in its entirety of insulating material so as to guard against the access of stray electrical currents to the parts above dev 56. Each of the cam-lugs 5i, 52 and 53 is adapted to sequentially coact with an inclined caminger 51 formed at-the outer or free' end of a resilient contact-arm 58. The said contact-arm 58 is secured by means of suitable screws 53-59 to an insulating-block 60. The saidinsulatingblock 69 is secured to the 'forward face of the front-plate 26 in any suitable manner such, for

instance, as by screws 6l -6l.

About midway of its length, the resilient contact-arm 58 is provided with a movable contact 62 adapted to periodically engage with a similarly-shaped stationary contact 63 carried at the outer end of a relatively-rigid contact-bracket 64 secured to the insulating-block 63 by means of screws 65-65.

Respectively clamped against the outer end of the contact-arm 58 and the outer end of the contact-bracket 64, by means of their respective outer screws 59 and 65, are lead wires 66 and 6.1

which may be extended to a device which it is desired to electrically control. The device to be controlled may, of course, assume a wide variety of forms and is not per se involved in the present invention, but by way of illustration, such dei vice may be considered to be an automatic washing machine or the like.

In order to make clear the operation of the device illustrated, let it be assumed that the parts are in the positions in which they are illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and that a supply of alternating current is'connected to the synchronous electric motor-structure 23. Under these conditions, the driving-pinion 25 would eiect the continuous rotation of the driving gear- Wheel 26 and the parts coupled thereto; As the driving gearwheel 26 turns, it will add to the tension of the already pre-tensioned transmitting-spring 30 so vthat the said transmitting-spring with gradually increasing force will tend to turn the stop-arm 32 in a clockwise direction. At this time, however, the said stop-arm 32 isheld against turning movement by the engagement of its latchingiinger 35 withthe latching-nger 36 o1' the latching-member 31.

Now when, in the continued rotation of the driving gear-Wheel 26, the said gear-wheel carries the latch-releasing member 38 to a position so as to engage its actuating-pin 4l! with the latching-nger 35, the said latch-releasing member will be turned about the stud 38a in a clockwise direction to cause the latch-releasing pin 39 to press outwardly upon the free end of the latching-member 31-as. is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. l i

When the latching-member 31 has been flexed suiiiciently to clear its latching-nger 35 from the latching-iinger 35 of the stop-arm'32, the

. to will rapidly swing through an arc of 360 in a clockwise direction under the urge of the transmitting-spring l0. The instant that the stoparm 82 moves as Just described. its latchingfinger I will move away from the actuating-pin 'Il of the latch-releasing member 3l and thus relieve the latching-member 3l of outward thrust, so that the said latching-member may instantly swing its latching-finger 38 inwardly into the path of movement of the latching-iinger 35 of the stop-arm I2. The latching-ilnger 38 will thus be in position-to be engaged by the latchingiinger ll of the vstop-arm I2 when the same has completed one full revolution, whereupon the i parts directly involved will assume the positions in which they are illustrated in Fig. 5, prepara.- tory to another cycle of operation. It may be here explained that as the latch-releasing member 38 moves bodily in a clockwise direction with the driving gear-wheel 28 from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5, the latch-releasing pin 39 of the said member 38, owing to its relative shortness, will ride freely past the rear-edge of the latching-flnger 35 of the stop-arm 32 without engaging the same.

It will be understood from the foregoing and by reference to the accompanying drawings, that when the stop-arm 32 is unlatchedl as above described, to permit the transmitting-spring to assert itself to eect one complete revolution of the said stop-arm and of the driven-pinion 33, the control-wheel 50 will be turned one step which under the conditions shown is' suiiicient to ride the cam-lug 5l out from under the camy finger 51 of the contact-ann and to shift the clearance-notch 55 thereunder to thereby permit the contact 26 to engage with the contact 8,3.-

The invention may be carried out in other speciiic ways than those herein set 'forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim: f

l. A rotary motion translating device comprising in combination: a substantially-continuously-rotating driving-member; an intermittently-driven member having a latching-abutment;

a transmitting-spring operatively-connected toV both the said members and forming a yielding driving-connection therebetween; a retirable latching-member releasably. engageable with the latching-abutment of the said intermittentlydriven member to restrain the latter; anda latch-releasing member carried by and bodily movable with the s'aid driving-member' with respect to which latter it has movement, the said latch-releasing member having a first abutment and a second abutment, the said first abutment being brought into engagement with a portion of the said intermittently-driven member while the same is restrained by the said latching-member to shift the said second abutment and 'cause the same to retire the said latching-member.

2. A rotary motion translating device comprising in combination: a substantially-continuously-rotating driving-member; an intermittentlydriven member having a latching-abutment; a transmitting-spring operatively connected to both the said members and forming a yielding driving-connection therebetween; a retirable lstching-member releasably engageable with the latching-abutment of the said intermittentlydriven member to restrain the latter; and a latch-releasing member pivoted to the said driving-member for bodily movement therewith and for pivotal movement with respect thereto, the said latch-releasing member having a releasingabutment and a stop-abutment which latter is engageable with a portion of the said intermittently-driven member while the same is restrainedA by the said latching-member and while the latch-releasing member is being bodily moved by the said driven-member to cause the latchreleasing member to swing with respect to the said driving-member by which Iit is carried and thereby force the said releasing-abutment to retire the said latching-abutment and thus release the said intermittently-driven member to the action of the said transmitting-spring.

' 3. A rotary motion translating device comprisingvin combination:y a substantially--continuousl ly-rotating driving-member; an intermittentlydriven member having a latching-abutment; a

transmitting-spring operatively connected to both the said members .and forming a yielding driving-connection therebetween; a retirable latching-member releasably engageable with the llatching-abutment of the said intermittently.- driven member to restrain the latter; and a latch-releasing member carried by the said driving-member and connected thereto with the capacity for movement substantially parallel with the plane of movement thereof, the said latchreleasing member having a ilrst abutment projecting substantially perpendicularly therefrom and a second abutment also projecting substantially perpendicularly therefrom, th said rst abutment being engageable with a portion of the said intermittently-driven member while the same is restrained by the said latching-member, to shift the said second abutment and cause the same to retire the said latching-member.

4. A rotary motion translating device comprising in combination: a substantially-continuously-rotating driving-member; an intermittentlydriven member having a latching-abutment; a transmitting-spring operatively connected to both the said members and forming a yielding driving-connection therebetween; a retirable latching-member releasably engageable with the latching-abutment of the said intermittentlydriven member to restrain the latter; and a latch- `releasing member pivotally carried by and bodily tially parallel with the axis of the said vdrivingmember, the said latch-releasing member having a releasing-abutment and a stop-abutment which latter is engageable with a` portion of the said intermittently-driven member while the same is restrained by the said latching-member and while the latch-releasing member is being bodily moved by the said driven-member, to cause the latch-releasing memberl to swing with respect to the said driving-member by which it is carried and thereby force the said releasingabutment to retire the said latchingmember and thus release the said intermittently-driven member to the action of the said transmitting-spring.

5. A rotary motion translating device comprising in combination: a substantially-continuouslyrotating driving-member; an intermittentlydriven member having a latching-abutment; a transmitting-spring operatively connected to both the said members and forming a yielding driving-connection therebetween; a latchingmember formed of spring-metal and having an oiisetting latching-abutment releasably engageable with the latching-abutment of the said intermittently-driven member to restrain the latter; and a latch-releasing member pivotally connected to the lsaid driving-member and bodily movable therewith, the said latch-releasing member having a releasing-abutment and a stopabutment which latter is engageable with a portion of the said intermittently-driven member while the same is restrained by the said latchingmember, to cause the latch-releasing member to swing with respect to the said driving-member and thereby force the said releasing-abutment to ex'the said latching-member and disengage its latching-abutment from the latching-abutment of the said intermittently-driven member.

6. A rotary motion translating device comprising in combination: a substantially-rotating driving-gear; timing-means for turning the said driving-gear at a predetermined'rate of. speed; an intermittently-driven unit comprising a gear and a stop-arm rigidly connected with the said gear and having a latching-abutment; a transmitting-spring operatively connected to both the said driving-gear and the said intermittentlydriven unit and forming a yielding driving-connection therebetween; a retirable latchingmember releasably engageable with the latchingabutment of the stop-arm of the said intermittently-driven unit to restrain the same; and. a. latch-releasing member carried by and bodily movable with the said driving-gear with respect to which latter it has movement, the said latchreleasing member having a first abutment and a second abutment, the said rst abutment being brought into engagement with a portion of the stop-arm of the said intermittently-driven unit while the same is being restrained by the said latch-member to shift the said second abutment and cause the same to retire the said latchingmember.

7. A rotary motion translating device comprising in combination: a substantially-continuouslyrotating driving-gear; timing-means for'turning the said driving-gear at a predetermined rate of speed; an intermittently-driven unit comprising a gear and a stop-arm rigidly connected with the said gear and having a latching-abutment; a transmitting-spring operatively connected to both the said driving-gear and the said intermittentlydriven unit and forming a yielding driving-connection therebetween; a retirable latchingmember releasably engageable with the latchingabutment of the stop-arm of the said intermittently-driven'unit to restrain the same; and a latch-releasing member pivoted to the said driving-gear for bodily movement therewith and for pivotal movement with respect thereto, the said latch-releasing member having a releasing-abutment and a stop-abutment which latter is engageable with a portion of the said intermittently-driven unit while the same is being restrained by the said latching-member and while the said latch-releasing member is being bodily moved by the said driving-gear to cause the latch-releasing member to swing with respect to the said driving-gear by which it is carried and thereby force the said releasing-abutment Ito retire the said latching-member and thus release the said intermittently-driven unit to the action of the said transmitting-spring.

8. A rotary motion translating device comprising in combination: a substantially-continaiiereo uously-rotating driving-gear; ytiming-means for turning thesaid driving-gear at a predetermined rate of speed; an intermittently-driven unit nected with the said gear and having a latchingabutment; a transmitting-spring operatively connected to both the said driving-gear and the said intermittently-driven unit and forming a yielding driving-connection therebetween; a retirable latching-member releasably engageable with the latching-abutment of the stop-arm of the said intermittently-driven unit to restrain the same; and a latch-releasing member carried by the said driving-gear and connected thereto with capacity for movement in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of movement thereof, the said latch-releasing member having a rst abutment projecting substantially perpendicularly therefrom' and a second abutment also projecting substantially perpendicularly therefrom, the said first abutment being engageable with a portion oi' the said intermittently-driven unit while the same is being restrained by the said latching-member, to shift the said second abutment and cause the same to retire the said latching-member.

. comprising a gear and a stop-army rigidly con- 9. A rotary motion translating device com-' prising in combination: a substantially-continuously-rotating driving-gear; timing-means for turning the said driving-gear at a predetermined rate of speed; an intermittently-driven unit comprising a gear and a stop-arm rigidly connected with the said gear and having a latchingabutment; a transmitting-spring operatively connected to both the said driving-gear and the said intermittently-driven unit and forming a yielding driving-connection therebetween; a retirable latching-member releasably l engageable with the latching-abutmnt of the stop-arm of the said intermittently-driven unit to restrain the same; and a latch-releasing member pivotally carried by and bodily movable with the said driving-gear and having swinging movement about an axis substantially parallel with the axis of the said driving-gear, the latch-releasing member being provided with a releasing-abutment and a stop-abutment which latter is engageable with a portion of the said intermittently-driven 'unit while the same is being restrained by the said latching-member and while the said latch-releasing member is being moved by the said driving-gear, to cause the latch-releasing member to swing with respect to the said driving-member by which it is carried and thereby force the said releasing-abutment to retire the said latching-member and thus release the said intermittently-driven unit to the action of the said transmitting-spring.

, 10. A rotary motion translating device com-` prising in combination: a substantially-continuously-rotating driving-gear; timing-means forthe said intermittently-driven unit to restrain to swing with respect to the said driving-gear and thereby force the said releasing-abutment to ex the said latching-member and disengage its latching-abutment from the latching-abutment of the stop-arm of the said intermittent1y- 5 driven unit.

ARTHUR B. POOLE. 

